Automobile-bumper



W kw

mg 1% l u A. L. McGREGOR.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

APPLICATION FILED my 3, n20.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

dent of Chico.

PATENT OFFICE.

mm L moraines. or 0310500, rumors.

AUTOMOBILE- BUMPER- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Deb. '7, 1920.

Application fled Hay 8, 1920. Serial No. 878,356.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Armin L. McGaEoon, a citizen of the United States, and a temin the county of Cook an State of Illinois, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Automobile- Bumpers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements m automobile bumpers and more particularly to those devices which are attached to the frame of a motor vehicle for the purpose of protecting the vehicle from damage 1n the event of collision with other ve icles or obstacles.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improve construction having among other features a degree of ad3ustability which will permit the bumper to be attached to various makes of vehicles having difierent dimensions between the points or laces of attachment, and moreover pip-- viding for suitable degree of movement between the bumper parts, thereby making the structure more flexible and better capable of withstanding the shocks of impact without being permanently distorted.

The structural features of the bumper are hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bumper as attached to the vehicle frame members,

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the bumper,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged zontal section, taken on line 3, 3 o and i Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section, taken on line 4, 4 of Fig. 2.

A referred structure for a bumper embodylng the features of my invention comprises m the main an impact member 1 extending transversely of the vehicle frame and horizontally at a distance outwardly therefrom, and twoconnecting members or bars 2, 2 adapted for attachment to the vehicle frame and permanently connected to the ends ofthe impact member 1.

The impact member is inherently flexible, being constructed of two parallel bars 3, 3 of metal bar stock arranged so that the are relatively ieldable in a horizontal detail view in horif-Fig. 2,

l tion and re atively nonyieldable in a vertical direction, these bars being spaced apart vertically, the intervening space being substantoward each tially equal to the width of each of the bars. The parallel bars 3, 3 are connected together at their ends in the following manner: The ends of each bar are bent or formed to provide circular eyes 4, through which are inserted relatively long bolts 5, 5. The central portion of the bars 3 3 are further connected together in space relation by means of a clip 6 comprising vertically arranged plates 7 7 which are connected together and clampe in place by means of a centrally dis osed bolt 8.

he connecting members or bars 2, 2 here inbefore mentioned, are formed of similar bar stock, preferably bent in curvilinear conformation throughout a rather large are, so that the end portions of each bar are arranged at an angle of substantially ninety degrees to each other. The inner end portions of the bars 2, 2 extend parallel to the longitudinal frame members 9, 9 of thevehicle frame and are attached or fixed thereto by means of suitable clamping bolts 10,

10. The outer end portions of the bars 2, 2

extend substantially parallel to the end portions of the impact member 1 and are connected thereto in the following manner: As shown in Fig. 3, the outer end portion of each bar 2, 2 is rovided with an end portion 11 formed y bending the end of the bar backwardly upon itsel and turning the extremity inwardly toward the main portion of the bar to form a book 12. The portions of the bar, as thus bent, are s aced apart at a uniform distance, thereby orm: ing an elongated slot of desired length, said slot being 0 osed at its inner end by means of the hook 12. The attachment of the outer ends of the bars 2 2 is accom lished by inserting the said ends between t e bars 3, 3 of the impact member I and-pass1ng the bolts 5 5 through the, slots formed at the ends of the connectin bars as well as the eyes 4 .at the ends of t e bars 3, 3. The width of the slot is suflicient to permit the bolts to slide longitudinally thereof with amlple freedom.

rom the description of the structure, it is manifest that the connecting bars 2, 2 may be adjusted relative to the impact member 1, that is to say they may be moved laterally 0t or or in the oppositedirection so that their inner ends may be attached to the vehicle frame members, such as 9, 9, and at the same time allow for varying distances between these frame members, this variation taken up at the point of connection of e bars 2, 2 withthe Impact member 1 b 'the shifting of the bolts 5, 5'

' the ends to be drawn toward each other,

brin ing about a movement of the bolts 5, 5 in he slots at the ends of the connecting bars 2. 2. Manifestly this movement is free until the bolt engages the hooked end 12 at the inner extremity of the slot, whereupon the bars 2, 2 themselves would absorb the remaining force of the shock by being bent toward a straight line position.

The features of my invention are hereinafter more fully disclosed in the appended claims.

Lclaim as my invention: I

1. In an automobile bumper, the combination of. an impact member, comprising bars spaced apart vertically and ri idly connected at their ends, and attac ing bars ada ted to be connected at one of their ends to-t e vehicle frame members, and provided at their other ends with slotted extremities ada ted to adjustably engage the ends of sai impact member.

2. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member com risin parallel bars spaced apart vertical y an provided with eyes at their ends, and bolts extending through said eyes, and bars connected at one of their ends to a vehicle frame, and bent at their outer ends to. provide slots engaging the ortions of said bolts intermediate the bars 0 the impact member.

3. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member comprising parallel bars spaced apart and bolts connecting said bars at their ends, bars connecting the ends of said impact member with a vehicle frame, and provided with outer end portions extending parallel with said impact member and bent double to rovide slots engaging said bolts intermediate the bars of said impact member.

4. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member'comprising parallel bars provided with eyes at their ends, bolts extending through said eyes, and bars for connecting said impact member to a vehicle frame, having outer end portions bent to form slots extendin longitudinally of said impact member, said slotted end portions being located between the bars of said impact member, the bolts thereof passing through the slots. I

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th da of April, A. D.-, 1920.

ALL N L. McGREGOR. 

